The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1887-02-27
THE LxSrEx SEASON.
How IL was Ushered In, and How IL will
be Observed in Catholic Circles.

How IL was uahered In, and How IL Will
be Observed in Catholic Circles.
Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the
season of Lent fell this year on the 23d of
February, and was observed in all the
Catholic churches by the ceremony of
placing ashes on the heads of the people,
the priest saying at the same time: ''Mem-
ento homo quia pulvis es, ct in pulverem
reverteris. = Remember, man, that thou
at dust, and unto dust shalt thou return. -
The void Lent is derived from the Anglo
Saxon 'lencten," meaning spring. and sig
nifies the fasting tin before Easter. 1t
was instituted in imitation of the forty
days fast of our Lord, and also as prepar-
alton for the worthy celebration of Easter.
1t has also the sanction of the example of
Moses and Elias in the old law From Ash
Wednesday to Easter Sunday there are
only forty days Sundays. on which there
is no obligation to fast. being excluded.
For many CO INJURIES the Lenten season was
begun by some on Septuagesima Sunday,
or the SEVENTEEN day before Easter; by
others on the Sexagesima Sunday, or the
sixtieth day before Easter, and by others
still on Quintuagesima Sunday, or the IF
tieth day before Easter. The first did SO
in order to make up for the Thursdays,
Saturdays and Sundays, on which they
were not obliged to fast; the second for the
Saturdays and Sundays, and the last for
the Sundays. The idea and practice in
raise the spirit to God; and also to appeass
the anger of God by works of
penance and modification. Many
examples might be cited from
Holy Writ in proof of the efficacy of fasting
and penance, and also of its being means
of grave approved by God himself. A day
of fasting -the Day of Atonement on the
tenth day of the seventh month-was al
pointed by God to be observed by the Isra
elites. Moses, Elias and our Savior tasted
for forty days St, Paul also speaks of
fasting as means by which Christians are
to commend themselves as servants OF
Ged. The case of the inhabitants of the
city of Nineveh may also be quoted as re-
markable example of the power of penance.
Our Saviour also has said, ssUnless We do
penance, you shall all likewise perish"
For about 200 years it was customary
to eat but one meal day in Lent. and that
only in the evening. This was the rule for
all classes high and low, prince and peas
ant, clergy and laity. In the 18th century
the meal began to be taken at o'clo OK in
the afternoon, which hour was the begin
ming Of the Office, instead of evening. which
was the end. By degrees the change to
midday took place. This has been within
the last two centuries; anu collation. in
the evening has been also allowed. Eight
ounces of food ale allowed at the collati IN
All baptized persons over 81 years of age
and under go. are bound to observe the
aok ,10.s ~, IS .E,1-
less excused for sufficient reason. They
are required to eat only one meal day,
which must got be taken before noon, and
are allowed collation. in the evening. In
this country small piese of bread, about
two ounces, with cup OF tea or coffee, is
also allowed in the morning.
Persons whose duties are of an exhaust
ing or laborious character, as well as thu
sick and inirm, and those in state of con-
valescence, "a lso women approaching ma
ternity or nursing infants. are exempt from
the fast. There are some slight differences
in the regulations of Lent in different do
ceses, and each person is to follow the rules
laid down in his own locality. In this do
cese there is what is called s'black" fast
on Good Friday, and neither milk, butter,
nor eggs is allowed on that day. In ancient
times no meat was allowed during the
whole period of Lent During Holy Week,
or the last week of Lent, many persons
formerly tasted the whole time, and par
ticularly on the last three days. In the
early ages of the Church also public n
ances, which were then customary, were
imposed on Ash Wednesday. The Bishop
placed the ashes on the hands of the penn
tents, and then with the foot of the cross
drove them from the church, as our first
parents were driven from Paradise after
they had sinned. The penitents remained
outside the church. separated from the
faithful, until Holy Thursday, when they
were absolved, and reconciled to the
church. Sometimes these public penances
lasted as long as twenty years Formerly
also, Holy Week and Easter Week were a
continual feast, the courts of justice were
closed, sll business suspended, prisoners
set at liberty, debtors had their debts paid
for thsm, or RENTED, and enemies were
reconciled. During this season also the
church dons her penitential robes, and re-
trenches from her services all hymns of
joy, such as the ''Alleliua, the ''Te Deum, "
and the "Gloria in Excelsis, and in her
sermons and instructions to her children
during this season, exhorts them to do pen
ance for their sins. There are extra ser
vices also during the whole Lenten season,
on two evenings of the week.